It has often seemed strange to many that people in senior positions of responsibility, such as fire chiefs and city managers appear to have reached their level without any structured training. Of course, real world experience is important - and perhaps many years ago this was all that was required - but in today's world things have changed. There is a lot more to such roles and anyone with a public administration masters degree will find himself or herself in a very strong position the next time such a role has to be filled.

It has often seemed strange to many that people in senior positions of responsibility, such as fire chiefs and city managers appear to have reached their level without any structured training. Of course, real world experience is important - and perhaps many years ago this was all that was required - but in today's world things have changed. There is a lot more to such roles and anyone with a public administration masters degree will find himself or herself in a very strong position the next time such a role has to be filled.

This is not to say real world experience should be in any way undervalued, but the simple fact is that such roles demand a greater breadth of knowledge than ever before and anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in the government and non-profit sector will be in a much stronger position, as well as being much better equipped, with such a qualification behind them.

One of the reasons this is so important is that public administrators have specific needs that only a tailored course can cater to and it is therefore essential that any course studied takes these needs into account.

For someone wanting to work (or improve their position) in areas as diverse as Homeland Security, fire service administration or criminal justice, a MPA degree (Master of Public Administration) can be the key to the door of career success.

Of course, there can be a real stumbling block. Many people interested in such a course may already be working full time and/or have childcare to arrange. Sadly, in the past this has been a Catch 22 for many people and they have had to miss out on what would have been a potentially life changing course. Fortunately, some of the better colleges understand this situation and have gone out of their way to introduce such courses that can be studied online.

The difference this can make to the student's life sometimes has to be seen to be believed. Online study for a public administration masters degree opens up a whole new vista of possibilities and enables the student to plan their study around their own circumstances. This could be while the children are at school, after a full time job or on weekends. The point is that the flexibility of such an arrangement enables the student to receive first class tuition and cutting edge materials without having to choose between paying the bills and doing the course.

It may even be possible to receive financial aid to help cover costs while studying. To this end, it makes sense to look for not just a college with a good reputation for its courses, but one that is happy to help students with their financial arrangelents and point them in the right direction.

This commitment to getting the best financial aid along with the flexibility of the online study model will really help separate the better colleges from the rest. It is important for students to realize that even if they do not need to take advantage of all these services, the very fact that they are offered provided a good indication of the college's commitment to its students.

The best advice for any potential student is to look online for a college that provides a public administration masters degree and to take a quick look around the college's website. If the college offers online study and financial assistance, it should be made clear without too much searching. If found, the student can rest assured that the college will be perfectly placed to help advance the student's career in public administration.